MOUND OF JOY: Johan Santana talks with Mets GM Omar Minaya after Santana threw 24 pitches yesterday, the first time he had thrown off a mound since having elbow surgery. Photo: Larry Marano

PORT ST. LUCIE — Groundhog Day arrived a week early for the Mets, with Johan Santana proclaiming yesterday from a bullpen mound that just maybe his team isn’t headed for six more weeks of hell.

For the first time in five months, since Santana underwent surgery to remove bone chips from his left elbow, Mets brass saw its $137-million ace back on a mound, unleashing pitches. The lefty threw 24 pitches and called it a day, saying he’s ready for the start of spring training in three weeks.

“I was very excited about today,” Santana said after the six-minute session, which highlighted the second day of mini-camp. “The ball was coming out pretty good. I don’t feel anything in my arm, so I think everything should be alright.”

Santana (13-9 with a 3.13 ERA last season) threw mostly fastballs, mixing in an occasional off-speed pitch. He departed for his winter home in Fort Myers, where he’ll continue working out on his own until the start of camp next month.

Though Santana didn’t bring his full arsenal, it was evident by the placement of his pitches that he is on the right track.

“You try not to evaluate it, but to have that type of command just shows the level of pitcher that he is, and that’s one of the top pitchers in the game,” manager Jerry Manuel said. “It’s good to see him laughing and yelling out ‘changeup, fastball, location.’ That is a great sign for us.”

Santana said his mechanics are better than they were last season, when the pain in his elbow prevented him from finishing his pitches. He underwent season-ending surgery on Sept. 1, deciding it wasn’t worth pitching through the pain with the team so far removed from playoff contention.

“I wasn’t able to lift my leg the way it’s supposed to because I wasn’t able to reach out,” Santana said. “Today I was able to actually see my leg when I finished the pitch, and that’s big. I’m going to continue to work my way up to Opening Day.”

Santana expects to receive five Grapefruit League starts, beginning in the second week of spring training. His goal is to get his pitch count above 90 by the time the Mets break camp in April.

It hasn’t been a great offseason for the Mets, with Carlos Beltran undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery that will keep him sidelined for at least the season’s first month, but GM Omar Minaya saw rays of sunshine yesterday, literally and figuratively.

“Every team has needs, but when you look at other clubs, we’re fortunate to say we have a Johan Santana,” Minaya said. “To have that pitcher on your team, it’s a good start.”

The Mets were also encouraged by Oliver Perez’s bullpen session. The lefty underachiever said it was his third time throwing off a mound since undergoing surgery last August to remove scar tissue from his right knee.